Polynucleotide molecule from Haematococcus pluvialis encoding a polypeptide having a β-C-4-oxygenase activity for biotechnological production of (3S, 3'S) astaxanthin and its specific expression in chromoplasts of higher plants

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to a biotechnological method for production of (3S,3′S) astaxanthin. In particular, the present invention relates to a peptide having a β-C-4-oxygenase activity; a DNA segment coding for this peptide; an RNA segments coding for this peptide; a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and the DNA segment; a host cell or organism containing the above described recombinant DNA molecule or DNA segment; and to a method of biotechnologically producing (3S,3′S) astaxanthin or a food additive containing (3S,3′S) astaxanthin, using the host.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NOs:1 or 2 said nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having a β-carotene C-4-oxygenase activity. 
     
     
       2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim  1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence includes a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:1 or 2. 
     
     
       3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim  1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence includes a sequence as set forth between and including nucleotides 166 and 1152 of SEQ ID NOs:1 or 2. 
     
     
       4. A nucleic acid construct comprising the nucleic acid segment as of claim  1 . 
     
     
       5. A host comprising the nucleic acid construct of claim  4 , said host is selected from the group consisting of a microorganism and a plant. 
     
     
       6. A host comprising the nucleic acid of claim  1 , said host is selected from the group consisting of a microorganism and a plant. 
     
     
       7. A food additive comprising the host of claim  5 . 
     
     
       8. A food additive comprising the host of claim  6 . 
     
     
       9. A transgenic plant expressing a transgene including a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, said nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having a β-carotene C-4-oxygenase activity. 
     
     
       10. The transgenic plant of claim  9 , wherein said transgene includes a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       11. The transgenic plant of claim  9 , wherein said transgene includes a sequence as set forth between and including nucleotides 166 and 1152 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       12. A nucleic acid construct comprising a first polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide for directing a protein into plant chloroplasts or chromoplasts and an in frame second polynucleotide at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NOs:1 and encoding a polypeptide having β-carotene C-4-oxygenase activity. 
     
     
       13. The nucleic acid construct of claim  12 , wherein said second polynucleotide includes a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       14. The nucleic acid construct of claim  12 , wherein said second polynucleotide includes a sequence as set forth between and including nucleotides 166 and 1152 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       15. The nucleic acid construct as in claim  12 , wherein said first polynucleotide is derived from the Pds gene of tomato.